HELLO CONNECTICUT

AT Day 086: Sunday July 2, 2023

Mile 1457.5 + 24.5 miles/39 km

Total Distance Hiked: 1482.0 miles/ 2385 km

Campsite – Stony Brook Campsite 

A:3180 ft / 1080 m  D: 3290 ft /1013 m

Hammer woke up just as the rain arrived around 1am.  By 4:30 a.m. when I woke,  the rain had stopped and the only water drops still hitting the tent  were falling from the trees.  Keen to use the break in the weather, we broke camp and were on our way around 5.30. It was very misty and very still and silent in the woods. I was startled when soon after leaving camp, a bear crossed the trail only a couple of metres in front of me.  Such a surprise as it  moved so silently. It was quite majestic and beautiful and was not interested in us at all. By the time I reacted and got my camera out it was out of sight. So finally our first bear sighting after 1457.5 miles on trail. 

A cool breeze was blowing when we were on higher ground. This made the humidity feel less oppressive.  It was quite a pleasant morning hiking in the fog with the breeze swirling the tree tops and the birds chirping. Probably happy like us that the rain had gone away for a little while.

The trail undulated without any really significant ups or downs.  We hiked a section on Duel Hollow Rd to bypass a bridge that was washed out. Being early Sunday morning and rainy weather, there wasn’t much activity on the road or around the houses we passed. About 5 miles from our campsite we left New York and entered Connecticut for the next 51 miles.  

The ascent of Ten Mile Hill which followed  was not overly steep but felt like it went in for a long time.  The high humidity made hiking very uncomfortable. I struggled with the climbs having to stop for frequent breaks. Hammer had one climbing gear and just kept churning. 

After crossing the Ten Mile Hill fog had descended over the woods. It was  quite and earie  and so silent except for the occasional  hammering of a woodpecker.

The Hausatonic River was huge and  it was flowing swifty with quite a few rapids.  Just before lunchtime we took a side  trail off the AT to walk over the covered Bulls Bridge and get a coffee and sandwich at the Bulls Bridge  Country Store. Here we met three hikers, we’d not seen before. They were absorbed by their phones while waiting for a shuttle to take them off trail to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and also to avoid the afternoon storm.

Rain and thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon and after last Mondays experience we were keen to avoid getting caught out on a ridge in a storm.  We left the store and headed back on trail. 

Where the AT crossed Route 341 we took a detour along the road to get off the ridge and  avoid having to descend the steep and rocky St Johns Ledge in the rain.  We followed an old AT route along the Housatonic River meeting up with the trail again at River Rd. 

The sun came out briefly and we had a couple of hours hiking on the best trail we’ve had on the AT so far, flat and sandy alongside a swiftly flowing river. We were liking Connecticut.

The sunny break did not last.  Within minutes the clouds rolled in.  And it started to rain just as we made it to the campsite. We ended up having to put up an already wet tent in the rain and diving under cover. The rain became quite intense during the night. Hammer was kept awake because his sleeping mat has developed holes in multiple places. So he slept on the ground. Which, while not comfortable, is not too bad as it is so warm. Another piece of gear that needs replacing.